Anchor winch

ABSTRACT

A power driven winch for reeling in an anchor line on a storage drum which is locked to prevent rotation when the power is deactivated. The drum is driven through a torsion spring clutch which is adapted to adjustably release frictional, torque transmitting engagement between the drive and the drum to accommodate unreeling of the line at varied rates to govern the speed of the anchor descent.

United States Patent Eudy 1 Apr. 8, 1975 [5 1 ANCHOR WINCH 3.0514458/1962 Moulton 254/150 R 3.l82.962 5/1965 [76] Inventor: Charles N.liludy, H1ghway 8 West. 3425526 2,1969

HOUSOW 3385i 3.637.056 1/1972 Baer 5. 192/12 BA 0 2 3.6483) 3/l972wflillhfilhy 211 App]. N6; 294.321

Primary Examiner-James B. Marbert Assistant Evuminer-James L. RowlandAttorney. Agent, or FirmHill, Gross. Simpson Van [52] US. Cl. i. 254/[50R; l92/l2 BA; 242/54 R; I

254/l 86 HC; 254/[87 Santen. Steadman Chiara & S1mpso1-1 [Sl] int. Cl866d 1/30 [58] Field of Search l92/4l S, 4892. 33 C. {57] ABSTRACT 92/17 g A power driven winch for reeling in an anchor line on a storage drumwhich is locked to prevent rotation R f d when the power is deactivated.The drum is driven e erences l e through a torsion spring clutch whichis adapted to ad- UNITED STATES PATENTS justably release frictional,torque transmitting engage |.473 248 ll/l923 Norris 254/187 R mentbetween the drive and the drum to aceommo 2.l73.l26 9/1939 Moore. 254N86HC date unreeling of the line at varied rates to govern the 2.xx4.xu115/1959 cumin 1 1 1 1 254/170 x speed f the anchor dcscem 2.961.2l7ll/l960 Succhini 1 1 1 1 254/186 R 2.968.380 H1961 Succhini et al t,i92/8l C l2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures r w 4 r 15 1a- ,a M Q K g H 131:1I

ANCHOR WINCH SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to Winchesin general and more particularly to a Winch with an electrically poweredmotor, for raising, lowering and locking an anchor or other load, in adesired position. The winch provides a cable storage drum which isdriven through suitable gearing by a motor, to reel cable thereon andwhich is irreversible except for activation of a control release meansto accommodate an adjustable rate of cable unreeling.

A feature of this invention is the simple, compact release device forthe Winch drum or spool, that permits an easily controlled release rate.from slow to fast, of the anchor rope or cable.

Another feature of this invention is the simple, compact device thatlocks the rope or cable drum in the desired position and prevents theweight or pull on the rope or cable from unwinding same from the winchdrum. unless released by rotation or movement of the release device.

Among the objects are to produce a simple, reliable and compactelectrically powered Anchor Winch for small boat use and for other smallwinch applications.

Another object is to provide a support which may be easily attached andpositioned for best results in the boat or on other objects to which itmay be attached.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specificationand the novel features of the invention will be more particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an anchor winch showing detailsof construction.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view with certain parts broken away to showmore detail of the drum release device.

This invention is intended especially for raising. lowering, and lockingin a desired position, an anchor on small boats. but will have otheruses as well.

A suitable motor 8 mounted to a gear housing 9 and having a shaft gearIt] drives a gear 14 that is locked to a drum shaft 1. causing rotationof drum shaft 1 when the motor is activated to drive a drum 23 forreeling a cable or rope thereon. A shaft collar 11 is locked. bysuitable means. to drum shaft 1 or to gear 14, or to both. A helicalcoiled torsion spring 13 surrounds shaft collar ii and having frictionalengagement therewith, with one end 1311 of spring [3 locked in a fixedposition. whereby spring 13 acts as a clutch that permits rotation in areeling. take-up direction. but prevents rotation in the oppositedirection, as determined by helical wrap of the spring 13. Thisarrangement prevents the unwinding rotation of the drum shaft 1,whenever the motor 8 is deactivated. In some instances the use ofself-locking or irreversible worm and worm gear combinations may inthemselves provide sufficient resistance to reverse or unreelingrotation of the drum shaft 1 when the motor 8 is deactivated so as toeliminate the requirement of the torsion spring 13. The winch drum 23includes a drum hub 7, to which suitable end flanges 20. 2I are formedor attached. and is fitted with bearings 6 and 19 at opposite ends forrotational movement about the drum shaft 1 and having a thrust washer l8interposed between said hub 7 and the housing 9. Drum hub 7 could be arod of suitable material bored or formed to rotate around shaft 1. Drumhub 7 extends through drum flange 20 to form a frictional engagingclutch surface 7a for a torsion spring 5. Drum drive shaft 1 extendsthrough drum hub 7 and has a shaft collar 4 locked to drive shaft 1 byset screws 15, or by other suitable means. An inward formed end 50 oftorsion spring 5 is attached to shaft collar 4 by engaging a slot 40, orby other suitable attachment. in the top outside edge of collar 4.Torsion spring 5 extends down and around shaft collar 4 and also aroundand over the clutch surface 7a of drum hub 7. A washer 3 held inposition by retaining ring or pin 16 holds the end of spring 5 in theslot 4a in collar 4. On the portion nearest drum flange 20, torsionspring 5 has an outward formed end 5b that engages a slot 2a, or isattached by other means, in the lower rim of release cup 2. Release cup2 has a hole in its top center and is retained in position on shaft 1 byretaining ring or pin 17, or by other suitable means. Release cup 2extends down and over torsion spring 5 and is easily rotatable.Rotational movement of release cup 2 reduces or releases the frictionalgrip or hold of spring 5 on the extended clutch surface 7a portion ofdrum hub 7 and permits release of the drum 23 to pay out an anchor lineor other load not shown Rate of release, from slow to fast. of the winchline (rope, cable or chain) can be regulated by the amount of rotationor movement of release cup 2 relative to the drum shaft 1 to impart anunwinding twist to the torsion spring 5 and loosen its grip on theclutch surface 711 of the hub 7. With release cup 2 in its normalposition. tightly wound spring 5 tightly grips durm hub clutch surface7a extension and also shaft collar 4 that is locked to drive shaft 1 sothat non-slipping rotational power is applied to winch drum 23 whenmotor 8 is activated. When motor 8 is stopped. the anchor or other winchload is locked in position and prevented from unwinding or pulling downby the one way clutch action of spring 13 and the driving couple ofspring 5 between the drum shaft l and the drum hub 7. Controlled rate ofrelease is obtained by selective movement of release cup 2 as describedabove to reduce or disconnect the torque transmitting couple between thetorsion spring 5 and the clutch surface 7a.

Another feature of this invention is the mounting arrangement thatgreatly reduces the strain or load on the bent or formed attached end5:: of torsion spring 5. With spring 5 gripping or locking up on bothdrum hub extension 7a and also on shaft collar 4 in its normal torquetransmitting posture, the load or strain is greatly reduced on theattachment point of spring 5 to shaft collar 4, where failure is mostlikely to occur and the reliability and load handling ability of thewinch is greatly increased.

Another feature of this invention is the formed mounting plate or base12 that is attached to gear housing 9 to provide a closure wall thereforand retains shaft collar 11. Mounting plate 12 also serves as one of thepractical attachment points for the secured end of spring 13 by andownward formed end 13:: of spring 13 extending through a hole inmounting plate 12. A portion 12b of mounting plate 12 is extendedparallel to motor 8 and formed upward from the base portion to provide amounting surface for a motor switch and for a motor overload circuitbreaker. Holes 120 through the downward and outward formed legs of themounting plate provide for attachment to a boat or other object on whichthe winch might be used.

I claim:

l. A winch for reeling a line comprising:

a mounting base;

a drive means supported on said base;

a drum shaft extending from said base and rotatably driven by said drivemeans in a reeling direction;

a restraining means adapted to prevent rotation of said drum shaft in anunreeling direction when said drive means is deactivated;

a drum means rotatably journalled on said drum shaft and having a hubextending from one end thereof with a circumferentially extendingperipheral clutch engaging surface thereon;

a torque transmitting helical coiled torsion spring clutch, having alesser inside diameter than said hub clutch engaging surface when saidtorsion spring clutch is in a relaxed condition and having one endthereoffixed to said drum shaft and having a second end frictionallyengaging said hub clutch engaging surface to drive said drum in areeling direction; and

a release means arranged to adjustably release the frictional engagementbetween the torsion spring clutch and the hub to permit said drum torotate in an unreeling direction and to provide a varied rate ofunreeling of the line.

2. The winch of claim 1 wherein said drum shaft ineludes an enlargeddiameter portion being generally equal in diameter. axially aligned andin juxtaposed relationship to said hub and having a non-disengagingclutch surface thereon.

3. The winch of claim 2 wherein said enlarged diameter portion comprisesa driving collar, having a recess at one end thereofto receive said oneend of the torsion spring and being of a diameter to frictionally engagesaid torsion spring.

4. The winch of claim 3 wherein said release means comprises a rotatablemember secured to the second end of said torsion spring and beingrotatable to adjustably reduce the frictional engagement between thetorsion spring and said hub.

5. The winch of claim 4 wherein the rotatable memher is cupshaped with aclosed end portion mounted for relative rotatable movement on said drumshaft and having a rim portion keyed to said second end of said torsionspring.

6. The winch of claim 5 wherein the rotatable member further includes asleeve portion connecting the closed end portion to the rim portion andwhich ex tends over and around said torsion spring.

7. The winch ofclaim 6 wherein the rotatable member sleeve portioncomprises a finger grip for rotating said rotatable member.

8. The winch of claim 7 wherein the restraining means comprises a secondtorsion spring having frictional engagement with said drum shaft andsaid second torsion spring having one end thereof fixed to preventrotation with said drum shaft, whereby reeling rotation of said driveshaft releases the restraining frictional engagement therebetween.

9. The winch of claim 8 wherein the drive means in eludes a gear case,rotatably supporting said drum shaft, an electric motor mounted to saidcase, and a gearing means interposed between said motor and said drumshaft to rotate said shaft when said motor is acti vated.

10. The winch of claim 9 wherein said mounting base includes a formedplate providing a closure cover for said gear case and having anaperture therein to secure said one end of said second torsion springagainst rotation and further including a supporting surface for motorcontrol components.

11. In a winch construction of the type having a motor drive unit forrotatably driving a take-up reel of the type adapted to take up chain,rope and cable type elongated material, the improvement of a driven hubon the take-up reel having a circumferentially extending peripheralfriction surface, a driver hub longitudinally adjacent thereto, acup-shaped release means having wall portions adapted to be spacedradially outwardly of said friction surface and said driver hub, ahelically coiled torsion spring interposed between said wall portionsand said friction surface and being connected in driven relationshipwith said driver hub, said spring normally being frictionally engagedwith said surface of said driven hub, thereby to rotate the driven hubwhen the driver hub is rotated,

and an end portion on the opposite end of said torsion spring extendingoutwardly into mechanical coupling engagement with the wall portionswhereby upon rotating the cup-shaped release means to unwind the helicalcoils of the torsion spring the driving relation with said frictionsurface may be selectively released to pay out the elongated material.

12. The structure of claim 11 wherein the motor drive unit includes adrive motor operably connected to said driver hub, by means of a driveshaft to rotate said driver hub in a take-up direction, said drive shafthaving a driven shaft collar remote from said driver hub with a secondhelically coiled torsion spring. which is fixed from rotation,frictionally engaged with said driven shaft collar. whereby activatingthe drive motor unwinds the helical coils ofthe second torsion spring torelease the frictional engagement with said drive shaft driven shaftcollar.

1. A winch for reeling a line comprising: a mounting base; a drive means supported on said base; a drum shaft extending from said base and rotatably driven by said drive means in a reeling direction; a restraining means adapted to prevent rotation of said drum shaft in an unreeling direction when said drive means is deactivated; a drum means rotatably journalled on said drum shaft and having a hub extending from one end thereof with a circumferentially extending peripheral clutch engaging surface thereon; a torque transmitting helical coiled torsion spring clutch, having a lesser inside diameter than said hub clutch engaging surface when said torsion spring clutch is in a relaxed condition and having one end thereof fixed to said drum shaft and having a second end frictionally engaging said hub clutch engaging surface to drive said drum in a reeling direction; and a release means arranged to adjustably release the frictional engagement between the torsion spring clutch and the hub to permit said drum to rotate in an unreeling direction and to provide a varied rate of unreeling of the line.
 2. The winch of claim 1 wherein said drum shaft includes an enlarged diameter portion being generally equal in diameter, axially aligned and in juxtaposed relationship to said hub and having a non-disengaging clutch surface thereon.
 3. The winch of claim 2 wherein said enlarged diameter portion comprises a driving collar, having a recess at one end thereof to receive said one end of the torsion spring and being of a diameter to frictionally engage said torsion spring.
 4. The winch of claim 3 wherein said release means comprises a rotatable member secured to the second end of said torsion spring and being rotatable to adjustably reduce the frictional engagement between the torsion spring and said hub.
 5. The winch of claim 4 wherein the rotatable member is cup-shaped with a closed end portion mounted for relative rotatable movement on said drum shaft and having a rim portion keyed to said second end of said torsion spring.
 6. The winch of claim 5 wherein the rotatable member further includes a sleeve portion connecting the closed end portion to the rim portion and which extends over and around said torsion spring.
 7. The winch of claim 6 wherein the rotatable member sleeve portion comprises a finger grip for rotating said rotatable member.
 8. The winch of claim 7 wherein the restraining means comprises a second torsion spring having frictional engagement with said drum shaft and said second torsion spring having one end thereof fixed to prevent rotation with said drum shaft, whereby reeling rotation of said drive shaft releases the restraining frictional engagement therebetween.
 9. The winch of claim 8 wherein the drive means includes a gear case, rotatably supporting said drum shaft, an electric motor mounted to said case, and a gearing means interposed between said motor and said drum shaft to rotate said shaft when said motor is activated.
 10. The winch of claim 9 wherein said mounting base includes a formed plate providing a closure cover for said gear case and having an aperture therein to secure said one end of said second torsion spring against rotation and further including a supporting surface for motor control components.
 11. In a winch construction of the type having a motor drive unit for rotatably driving a take-up reel of the type adapted to take up chain, rope and cable type elongated material, the improvement of a driven hub on the take-up reel having a circumferentially extending peripheral friction surface, a driver hub longitudinally adjacent thereto, a cup-shaped release means having wall portions adapted to be spaced radially outwardly of said friction surface and said driver hub, a helically coiled torsion spring interposed between said wall portions and said friction surface and being connected in driven relationship with said driver hub, said spring normally being frictionally engaged with said surface of said driven hub, thereby to rotate the driven hub when the driver hub is rotated, and an end portion on the opposite end of said torsion spring extending outwardly into mechanical coupling engagement with the wall portions whereby upon rotating the cup-shaped release means to unwind the helical coils of the torsion spring the driving relation with said friction surface may be selectively released to pay out the elongated material.
 12. The structure of claim 11 wherein the motor drive unit includes a drive motor operably connected to said driver hub, by means of a drive shaft to rotate said driver hub in a take-up direction, said drive shaft having a driven shaft collar remote from said driver hub with a second helically coiled torsion spring, which is fixed from rotation, frictionally engaged with said driven shaft collar, whereby activating the drive motor unwinds the helical coils of the second torsion spring to release the frictional engagement with said drive shaft driven shaft collar. 